Scattered Graves

Mike stepped in and slammed it in the latch. Diane locked it.
Shipman’s muscles, Diane guessed, were like Harve Delamore’s—all show. Mike’s were not. It was nice to have the testosterone advantage on her side this time.
‘‘Hey, you can’t lock me in,’’ he said. He shook his hands as if they hurt. Probably stung after Mike grabbed the gate from him.
‘‘I’m not,’’ said Diane. ‘‘I’m securing the museum. There’s a stairwell and an elevator to the left and right of the overlook. They lead down to the first floor. There will be guards at the desk and they can let you out. Or you can go through the crime lab to their private elevator,’’ said Diane. She closed the fire doors and locked them too.
As Diane and Mike walked to the middle bank of elevators, she called security on her cell and told them to turn on the night lighting.
After a few moments they were plunged into dark ness except for the foot lighting. They heard a muffled yell but couldn’t hear what Shipman was saying. She pushed the button for the elevator and the doors opened immediately. They got in and the doors closed, drowning out all sound.
‘‘I thought something was up the way you talked to Bryce—a little harsher than your usual tone.’’
‘‘Bryce had already lost two battles with me. I knew he wouldn’t want to lose a third, and I didn’t want to tempt him into being reasonable by making nice with him.’’
‘‘Doc, I didn’t know you could be so manipulative,’’ he said.
‘‘Of course you did,’’ retorted Diane.
Mike folded his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall of the elevator. ‘‘Exactly where did this get you?’’ he asked.
Mike was wearing tan slacks and a dark gray sweater, dressier than his usual Dockers and polo shirts. She was glad he was back. She hadn’t liked the idea of his ice caving any more than Neva had.
‘‘The terms of the contract between the museum and the City of Rosewood specify that neither the crime lab operation nor any of its employees shall put the museum, its staff, or any visitors in danger,’’ said Diane. ‘‘When the lab left my control, Vanessa and the board wanted the crime lab gone. I confess, I had already been thinking about it even before Vanessa suggested it. It would be nice to have the space back.’’
‘‘So Bryce really stepped in it this time,’’ said Mike. ‘‘When Neva gets off work her muscles are knotted up worse than mine after a hard rock climb. She really doesn’t like the guy. And neither does David from what I hear. Neva’s worried about him.’’
Diane didn’t say anything for a long moment. Fi nally she spoke. ‘‘We’re coming up on the anniversary of the massacre,’’ she said at last. She didn’t elaborate. People who knew her well knew what she was talking about. ‘‘It’s always hard on both of us. This year, more so on David.’’
‘‘Oh, Diane, I’m sorry . . . I hadn’t realized. I don’t think Neva did either.’’
The elevator doors opened.
‘‘It’s not something we bring up without cause,’’ said Diane as they stepped off the elevator into a stream of people leaving the museum restaurant.
Diane unlocked a door and ducked into the primate section to avoid being noticed by anyone she knew. The room had an eerie feel in the dark with only the foot lighting. The Neanderthal figures looked even more real in the dark shadows.
‘‘Are you going to be all right?’’ Mike asked.
‘‘Fine. David will be fine too. How about you? Is that a new scrape on the side of your face?’’ she asked, deflecting any talk about the massacre.
‘‘Frostbite. I got it in the ice caves. I have to tell you, ice caves are among the most beautiful places on earth, but I really hate them.’’
‘‘Don’t they have more experienced people with ice caves . . . ? I mean, that isn’t your thing,’’ said Diane.
‘‘We had ice cave experts doing the climb too. I didn’t really have to do that much. I wanted the expe rience. But now that I’ve had it, I much prefer the regular old caves we explore,’’ he said. ‘‘Though I have to say, the volcano expedition several months ago was interesting.’’
They crossed over to the east wing lobby. Two of her security guards were on duty. Diane greeted them as she walked past.
‘‘You got a phone call from Lloyd Bryce,’’ said one of the guards. He grinned. ‘‘He said you locked his guard in the west wing?’’
Diane stopped.